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Columbus, Ohio, December 30th, 1908. 

''The Board of Trustees met at the call of the President at the Neil House. Present, P. E. 
Pomerene, Pres., John T. Mack, P. A. Derthick and 0. E. Bradfute. 

The following communication was received from the Ohio Union, and on motion of Mr. 
Bradfute the plan as outlined in said communication was agreed to, and the suggested Com- 
mittee was formally appointed." 

Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 19, 1908. 
Honorable Board of Trustees, Ohio State University. 

Gentlemen: — At a meeting of the student body held October 16, 1908, for the purpose of 
electing officers for the various student organizations of the university, a plan was presented 
for the organization of a committee to take charge of the solicitation and expenditure of funds 
for the furnishing of the new Student Building. 

This plan, which originated in the Student Council, was ratified by the students, and 
seven representatives were elected to membership on the committee as follows : Aaron B. Cohn, 
B. Frank Miller, G. Harold Janeway, Paul W. Barnes, Chas. Sherman, Arthur S. Albright, 
and PI. M. Wilson. 

This committee then organized as follows : Aaron B. Cohn, President ; G. Harold Janeway, 
Vice-president; Paul W. Barnes, Secretary; B. Prank Miller, Corresponding Secretary. 

The original plan provided that the students should select two members of the faculty and 
one member of the alumni to serve with them. After organization the student representatives 




South Elevation. 



elected Professor Edward Orton, Jr. and Professor Wm. W. Boyd as faculty members on the 
committee and Mr. Carl Steeb as alumnus member. 

This committee, thus organized, has held a number of meetings and desires to make the fol- 
lowing recommendations : 

1. That all funds collected by this committee be covered into the treasury of the Univer- 
sity through the hands of the Secretary of your Board. 

2. That all such funds be placed to the credit of the committee. 

• 3. That all disbursements be made upon the requisition of the President and the Secre- 
tary of the Committee, according to a general plan agreed upon by the committee and your 
honorable body, or such representatives as you may name. 

4. That this committee be empowered to draw up a statement defining the policy and pur- 
poses of the Student Building, subject to your approval. 

5. That, when the building shall be nearly completed and ready for occupation, this 
committee shall be empow^ered to formulate a plan for the permanent management and control 
of the building, subject to your approval. 

We therefore respectfully, request your honorable body, if this plan meets with your ap- 
proval, to sanction the action which has been taken by appointing the undersigned as your 
representatives for the purposes named above, and such other services as you may require. 

Respectfully submitted, 



B. Frank Miller, 
H. M. Wilson, 
Aaron B. Cohn, 
Arthur S. Albright, 



Paul W. Barnes, 

Gr. Harold Janeway, 

Chas. P. Sherman. 



Carl E. Steeb, 
Edward Orton, Jr., 
Wm. W. Boyd. 



Committee 



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North Elevation. 



THE STUDENT BUILDING 



Location 
and 



Enrollment. 



The Ohio State University was established in 1873. It is located on a beautiful tract of land 
of 435 acres in the north end of Columbus, and consists of seven colleg-es; Agriculture, Arts, Edu- 
cation, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. It has twenty-one buildings size, 
devoted to instruction, and the value of the whole plant is over $3,500,000. 

There are at present 209 members of the faculty and 2,442 students. There are 2,000 male 
students. Each county in Ohio is represented, as well as 30 other states and 10 foreign coun- 
tries. The increase in students at the opening of this year was 320. During the last year there were 
over 2700 different students enrolled, so the total enrollment this year will exceed 3,000 stud- 
ents. The Ohio State University is rapidh^ becoming the center for higher and technical educa- 
tion in Ohio. 

The University has no system of dormitories, except a small dormitory for women, and is 
thus unable to exercise any direct control over the students after they leave the class room. 
These students are congregated in a small section surrounding the Universit}^ and dwell, for 
the most part, with private families. Here they have only their sleeping rooms in which to 
stay, and if they desire to see their friends or amuse themselves in hours of leisure, they have Recreation. 
no place to do it, unless they go to the city, where all the vices are at hand to tempt the weak. 
It is a fact that, yearly, many young students are led astray and drop out of the college because 
they arc compelled to go to the city to spend their hours of recreation. 



No Place of 




PLA'^ / I)AftAtAr 



THE STUDENT BUILDING 



Within the student body are literary societies and various other social, religious, musical 
and educational organizations. These societies meet in various places around the University "tlons^^ 
and have no place where they can all congregate. 

The, campus is large and the nearest rooming houses are at least ten minutes walk from the 
buildings. This makes it hard for students to seek their rooms, especially in inclement weather, ^^ pj^^^ 
when they have hours between recitations which should be spent in study. The result is that to study 
they are compelled to kill time in the hallways. There are no waiting, smoking, or writing between 
rooms for the men, nor offices for the committees or student publications. Recitations. 

These are some of the disadvantages resulting from the lack of a student building, which 
will now be remedied. 

^^isixnT^ tii the (Biitixt itc ^ttnxt tJbe ^mlitmg* 

. The movement to secure a Student Building to supply this evident need started as early 
as 1892, when an effort was made by the Ohio State Y. M. C. A. to erect such a building for Efforts of 
themselves ; but their effort was spent the same year, reviving again in 1898, only to meet with a ^- ^- ^- ^• 
similar fate. 

Seven years later the increasing demand for such a center for the students again induced 
the Y. M. C. A. to attempt the proposition, and an organized effort was made to secure the 
necessary funds by subscription from the students, faculty, alumni. City Board of Trade, 
friends of the University and from any other source possible. 



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Restaurant. 



THE STUDENT BUILDING 



At first the problem seemed to be solved. The Columbus Board of Trade promised to raise 
$100,000, the students and faculty pledged $19,000 and the building seemed a probability. But 
active work on the plan was delayed so long that the time limit to the pledges of the students 
and faculty expired, and the project began to lose prominence. 

In the fall of 1907 the matter was again taken up, and a final attempt determined upon 
by a general meeting of influential men of the student body. A plan was finally conceived by 
which the necessary funds could be secured from the State by the students, and an organized 
effort was started to secure an appropriation from the Legislature. The entire student body 
co-operated in the executive part of the plan by writing to their friends at home and also to 
the Legislators from their districts, explaining the need of a Student Building at Ohio State, 
and asldng for all the influence that could be brought to bear on the Legislature. 

Every possible influence Avas brought to bear and finally, the Student Building Bill Avas 
reported favorably from the Finance Committee of the House as a part of the General Appro- 
priation Bill. The Bill appropriating $75,000 for the Student Building was approved by the 
Senate on May 2, 1908, and the golden dreams of the students were fulfilled. 



3mm^itmt^ ^ttits. 



Unsuccess= 
ful. 



Pinal 

Attempt 

By Student 

Body. 



Appropri= 

ation by 

Legislature. 



But those connected with the University realized that the University was groAving Avith such 
strides that a building built and equipped from this sum would soon be insufficient, and Ave Appropria= 
would soon be in cramped quarters. So it was decided by the Board of Trustees that almost all tion inade= 
the $75,000 should be put into the construction of the building and the students be requested to 
raise the $25,000 necessary to furnish and equip it. 



quate. 




-P In A /i "f f I ^/T F L°OS^ 



THE STUDENT BUILDING 



11 



$25,000 

must be 

raised to 

equip the 

Building be= 



Accordingly a student committee known as the Ohio Union Committee was chosen by the 
general student body to raise this necessary $25,000 to furnish and equip the building. 

The contract has been let and the building is now in process of construction. The contract 
makes necessary its completion by October next. And it is the purpose of the Committee to 
have the building equipped and ready for use soon after the opening of the school year 1909. 
Thus it is necessary for you to give your hearty financial support and co-operation, or when _ 
school opens next fall we mil have a fine building but will be unable to use it, because of lack fore we can 
of equipment. «se it. 

We have every reason to believe that the support will be forthcoming. At the last attempt 
to secure a Student Building $19,000.00 was subscribed by students and faculty without any 
assurance of a building. But now we have a $75,000 building assured and in course of con- 
struction, and are only asking for funds necessary to equip it, in order that we may use it. it Rests 
Therefore it rests with you whether or not we shall be able to use this building when completed; with you. 
and you can make this possible only by lending your hearty support, financial and otherwise. 
"Boost Ohio State and the Student Building." 

The accompanying plans and elevations show the completeness with which the project has 
been carried out, but fail to give an adequate idea of the building's true worth and beauty. 

The architecture of the new structure harmonizes well with Oxley Hall, the girl's dormi- Architec= 
tory, and will be an attractive addition to the campus. ture. 



12 



THE STUDENT BUILDING. 



Location. 

South 
Elevation. 



North 
Elevation. 



The location is due south of Orton Hall and about midway between Orton Hall and Elev- 
enth Avenue. The site plan on page 22 shows the location of the buildings and the plan of 
future development of this part of the campus. 

The South elevation (see page 2) shows the entrance which faces Eleventh Avenue. 

The North elevation (see page 4) gives some idea of the broad spacious terrace which faces 
Orton Hall and the ravine leading toward the spring. This terrace is approached by an ornate 
stairway leading up to it, and the lobby is entered by two large French windows at either end 
of the terrace. The large chimney in the middle of the terrace is for the fire place on the North 
side of the lobby — one of its most attractive features. (See cut of lobby.) 

Entering the building by the Eleventh Avenue entrance we find ourselves, after passing 
through the vestibule, in a large lobby or lounging room. This is one of the most attractive 
^ ^ y- features of the building, being designed with the idea of comfort and beauty. Here the students 
c^n come ard enjoy quiet relaxation during yacant hours. The illustration gives but a hint 
Billiard and ^f what the room really will be. Out of the lobby to the left opens the large billiard room, ex- 
oom. -j-pj^(jjjjg across the end of the building, and containing the billiard and pool tables. To the right 
Reading and of the lobby are two large rooms of about the same size, one the reading, and the other the 
Writing writing room. These will be a great convenience as there are at present no such accommoda- 
Rooms. j-^Q^ -pQj, ^Yie students. Between these two rooms the broad stairway leads up to the upper floors. 
other Rooms ^^ either side of the Eleventh Avenue entrance to the building are arranged the offices, check- 
rooms and the visitor's room. 

Ascending the stairway to the second floor the main feature is seen to be the large Trophy 




THE LOBBY. 



THESTUDENTBUILDING. 13 

Hall, occupying the center of this floor. In this room will be kept all the athletic trophies, 
such as cups, pennants, footballs, etc., and all awards of merit in other lines of college endeavor. ^^^ ^ ^' * 
Arranged around the Trophy Hall are the Y. M. C. A. offices. Board room, and toilet %fflces^* 
rooms. Besides these are two large rooms at the west end which can be used for musical organ- Board Room. 
izations, The Strollers, conventions, Y. M. C. A. meetings, etc. Meeting 

Upon gaining the third floor we find the large Assembly Hall, where the college theatricals, 
lectures of different kinds, entertainments, and dances will be given. The floor is ample in Assembly 
size for all ordinary uses. One of the attractive features here is the system of alcoves and cozy ^ *' 
corners built around the two sides. 

Communicating with the Hall are dressing rooms, and arrangement is also made for a com- 
plete stage equipment. 

Further, the third floor contains five bedrooms for accommodating guests of the University. Q„est Rooms 
These are not to be used as student dormitories. 

At the extreme west end will be found the offices for all student publications. Here the 
''Lantern" will have its headquarters, and there will be accommodations for the Makio ^o^^^, p^b icatutns 
and others. Quarters for the steward and janitor will also be found at this end of the floor. 

Upon descending to the basement, still more attractive features are disclosed. Here are 
the ordinary and private dining rooms, lunch room, bowling alleys, barber-shop, and steward's ^^img 
office. 



The restaurant is to be run with no idea of profit, as the main object is to benefit the 
students. The same is also true of all the paying features of the building. 



Restaurant. 




i 



PI4A/J ^//IC<^AD fL^o;^ 



THE OHIO UNION. 



15 



^latt Knit l^nxi^xtst xti tJb^ ^hxxt ^nxxtn. 



With such a building assured, the question naturally arises : How will it be controlled ? Of 
course it will be a University building, owned by the State and under the general control and 
supervision of the University authorities, as are all the other buildings on the campus. But 
being a student's building, it is intended that it shall be under the direct supervision of the 
students, and financially maintained or operated by them. Hence the necessity for a student 
organization was at once apparent. The question was taken up by the Student Council and it 
was decided that a student Committee consisting of seven members from the three upper classes 
of the University should be elected at the regular class elections by the three upper classes, and 
that these, together with two members of the faculty and one member of the alumni should 
constitute a committee to organize the Ohio Union and raise the necessary funds to properly 
equip the building. 

Now what is the Union to be! For what will it stand, and what will it hope to accomplish? 
As its name indicates it will be an organization, a union for Ohio State men, graduates, under- 
graduates, faculty and alumni, which shall grow in size and influence mth each year, and be a 
never ending influence for the good of Ohio State. Its avowed purpose will be to promote Uni- 
versity spirit, and to increase social intercourse and acquaintance with each other's work 
among the members of the different departments and other University organizations. One of 
the princiDal bsnefits which it is hoped will accrue from this organization is the increase of a 
proper University spirit. The advantages to the students as individuals and to the University 



Control of 
Building. 



Organiza= 
tion. 



What the 

Union 

will be. 



Its Purpose. 



Benefit to 
Students. 




Trophy Hall. 



THEOHIOUNION. 17 



itself from such increased spirit are too apparent to require mention. The Union should come 
to be a quasi-official means of communication between faculty and students. It should and 
doubtless will make its influence felt in the right direction in all questions affecting student life 
primarily, but also in matters virtually affecting the University itself. The Anglo-Saxon com- Aisotothe 
munity young or old, has always demonstrated capacity for self-government, and it can hardly i^niversity. 
be doubted that the students at Ohio State can and will do much for themselves, which now 
remains undone, under such guidance and regulation and with such miachinery as the Union will 
afford. 

For one who realizes that human nature is essentially social, that the social instinct is 
wholesome and commendable, that it is never more strong and insistent than at the student age, social Needs 
it is difficult to comprehend how anyone can doubt the wisdom of providing an adequate and at Ohio 
wholesome outlet, which shall lead this instinct along healthful and inspiring lines, rather than state. 
let it waste itself, or find expression in ways and places deleterious to student welfare in every 
respect. It is this function which the Union proposes for itself and its club-house. President 
Woodrow Wilson in an address, gave admirable expression to this whole idea, when he said in noraivaiue 
substance that, "after all, perhaps the greatest part of education, mental and moral, is derived oftheciub 
from that attrition of mind upon mind which takes place in the companionship of student with House. 
student, after recitations are finished." 

The fact that other universities are supporting student clubs of this nature is enough to 
assure us that the thing can be done, and done successfully. The good they do is inestimable, 
and Ohio State must not fall behind in a case like this. 




Vi, A ^ of T Hii^-D Vi°o^i_ 



THEOHIOUNION. 19 



Thus at Harvard, the Harvard Union has come to be a recognized and highly valued factor 
in all university life, and has enlisted not only the commendation but also the active support of 
Pres. Eliot, members of the corporation, and faculties, because it has proved to be the most At Harvard. 
hopeful and wholesome influence in Harvard student life. 

And so we find at Columbia, Brown, Pennsylvania, and at other American and British uni- 
versities, which were already much better equipped with means of social life, organizations similar BrowiTpenn 
to our Union have been formed ; that they are housed in splendid club houses and are rendering and others. 
valuable and highly appreciated services to the university life. At Chicago, Pres. Harper took 
the keenest personal interest in the project and secured an endowment for the splendid Reynolds 
Club, as it is called, which together with the Hutchin's Commons, the Quadrangle Club and the At Chicago. 
dormitories, serve all the functions proposed for the Ohio State Student Building. 

Dr. C. R. Henderson, chaplain of the University, said in a recent letter : 

''I can say that Reynolds Club has brought to our community very great advantages, and 
that its influence seems to be wholly good, and it certainly brightens and beautifies life for j^e Rey= 
the young men." noids ciub. 

Resting as it does upon such universal traits of human nature, with objects so entirely 
wholesome and commendable, with its great usefulness proven by successful experiments at 
other universities, it would be strange indeed if there were any considerable opposition to, or 
criticism of, the Student Union project. 



5WWftfyH fi ii » tfirjr:>'wn i irw:rTjr i i i ijr i T4^u^^ 



iW*K^'es:s«?=^>W?W»**«8*« 




Assembly Room. 



1. In no sense of the word will it be a hotel. The bedrooms and gnest rooms will be for 
the exclusive use of University guests, such as lecturers and commencement orators and visiting 
alumni. This will be an incidental feature and the building is so designed that that portion 
of it devoted to such purposes can be easily shut off, when not in use, from the rest of the 
building and thus save expense of care and heaticg. 

2. It will not contain the objectionable features of city clubs. There will be no bar. The 
use of intoxicating liquors, all species of gambling and any other features which would tend to 
make it otherwise than a clean and wholesome social center for the students will be absolutely 
prohibited. 

3. It will not be a dormitory or lodging club for students. No rooms will be let for that 
purpose. 

4. It will not be dominated by any organization, Y. M. C. A., fraternal, athletic, or other- 
wise. All organizations are provided for as shown by accompanying plans and description of 
the building ; but the Club House is to be a common center for all Ohio State men and not for 
any particular class or classes. The purposes for which it is intended can only be accomplished 
in that way. 

It is the intention of the Ohio Union Committee to bring the advantages of the Building 
within the reach of every under-graduate. At most the membership dues will be only nominal 
and such as will be necessary for the maintenance of the Building. It is the hope of the Com- 
mittee that eventually the privileges of the Building may be free to every student. 




Map of part of the Campus, showing relative position of the Student Building and 
the present and projected Dormitories. 



THEOHIOUNION. 23 



University of Virginia $ 90,000 

University of Pennsylvania 180,000 

Columbia 65,000 

Yale 130,000 

Brown 75,000 

Harvard 150,000 

McGill 110,000 

Cornell 65,000 

University of Iowa 40,000 

University of Wisconsin 85,000 

University of Indiana 50,000 

University of Illinois 100,000 



24 



THE OHIO UNION. 



€xttnix'txt (^xtmmiiltt xtf ^hixt Hmxttt. 



Aaron B. Cohn, President. 

G. Harold Janeway, Vice President. 

Paul W. Barnes, Secretary. 

B. Frank Miller, Corresponding Sec'y- 

H. M. Wilson. 

Arthur S. Albright. 

Chas. S. Sherman. 



ALUMNUS MEMBER, 
Carl E. Steeb. 

FACULTY MEMBERS, 
Edward Orton, Jr., 
AV. W. Boyd. 



Address all communications to 

THE OHIO UNION, 

Committee Room, Main Building, 

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. 



«m«ir»f -imiwB—MimitMMM— 







